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Around the time of the Tokyo Game Show, Sony held a private meeting at its offices in Tokyo's Aoyama. The purpose was to show off the PSP2.[/p]Finally.

Several sources have confirmed to Kotaku that the PSP2 does have a previously rumored touch panel on the back of the hardware. The touch panel was described as looking like a big mouse trackpad. When Sony showed the PSP2, it did not provide concrete details regarding how the trackpad will be implemented in games and instead is leaving that to the discretion of game developers.[/p]Sounds like it could be used to aim in an FPS game? Move your finger along the back of the system and your aim on the screen changes as well. This can bring a new level of reflexes and stuff to FPS games without the usual "can't see through your hand" problem. It could be comfy or not depending on the shape of the system and such.

The screen itself is not only sharper than the current PSP's, but about an inch larger. The larger screen means that the PSP2 will be larger as well. In the private meetings, Sony is touting the screen as "HD".[/p]A larger screen sounds like they want to make it more media-oriented like current tablets and netbooks. Also as usual I call "bullshit" on the screen being High-Definition. They're most likely using "HD" as some other acronym, as High-Definition has a concrete term as defined by the US government of at least 1080x720.

A larger PSP should not be that big of an issue for Sony — especially in a mobile environment with large tablets like the iPad. It also shows that Sony realizes it is no longer simply competing with Nintendo, but also Apple.

It is unclear whether this is the same handheld described by the Wall Street Journal. According to the paper, Sony is working on a device that mixes a game player, an e-book reader and a netbook computer.

In late September, there were also reports that the PSP2 hardware was in the hands of "numerous" developers.

Currently, the PSP2's hardware is not finalized, and Sony is having problems balancing battery, power and heat. There are apparently overheating issues, but Sony is, of course, aiming to have those issues corrected by the time the hardware is publicly shown.

Sony set the PSP2's goals (what Sony wants it to do), but is still tinkering with the portable's innards. The PSP2's tech specs are expected to change, meaning that things like chip size and processor size are variable.

Sources tell Kotaku that the PSP2's release window is fall 2011. Sony is not yet talking openly about the PSP2.[/p]

HD screen? Overheating, battery problems? Looks like Sony's going for the "super-duper mega graphically-superior powerhouse" route for their next handheld.
That'll show Nintendo! Just like last time, right?

On a less biased note, I think Sony's approach at a touch panel is interesting to say the least. I'm actually quite curious to see how this'll be implemented in games.

This makes me curious, but, as to keep my hype level for the 3DS extremely high, I must think of some bad things that might make the PSP2 suck.... hmmm, low battery life? Or what if it feels bad in the hand, like the PSP go? What about UMDs?

Many things about the PSP2 are a rumor (including it's look, even), but these two things (larger screen and touch on the back) are confirmed because of the meeting, thus the title and article focusing on them.